Latest news with #MaoAsada
Japan Forward
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Mao Asada to Launch Skating Academy in August
Reporting on a new coaching opportunity for Mao Asada, Mets pitcher Kodai Senga's hamstring injury and the Urawa Reds' trip to the FIFA Club World Cup. Mao Asada attends a news conference on June 12, 2025, in Tokyo. (©KYODO) Three-time world champion Mao Asada inspired countless individuals during her decorated career as a figure skater. Now, eight years after her retirement from competition, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist aims to give back to the sport as a mentor for athletes who want to follow in her footsteps. The Kinoshita Mao Academy is her new ambitious project, and it is set to open on August 1. In November 2024, Mao Rink Tachikawa Tachihi opened in Tachikawa, a city in western Tokyo. The state-of-the-art facility gave Mao a home base to help develop future generations of skaters. "I will take this new step forward as a coach," Asada told a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday, June 12, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported. "My dream is to train those who will go on to become world-class skaters. At her new skating academy, Mao's focus will be coaching young students. The initial plan is for the 34-year-old to begin working with roughly 10 students between the ages of 5-9, multiple media outlets reported. Outlining her approach in her new occupation as a full-time coach, the national icon said, "I'm taking a new step, [and] I want to instruct each skater carefully one-on-one," Kyodo News reported. With that in mind, she added that her goal is to "develop skaters who can be world No 1." Mao Asada speaks to reporters on June 12. (KYODO) As she embarks on her coaching career, Mao said she's eager to provide instruction to young skaters. "This will be my first experience, so I want to teach while giving careful thought to the various aspects of my job," the Nagoya native said, according to NHK. "I believe that you cannot work hard if you do not love skating. So no matter what happens, I will try not to lose my love for skating." The six-time Japan national champion recalled being inspired by her former coaches as she looks ahead to her new work. "When I was a skater, I had many coaches who helped me, and I want to remember to love skating as much as they did," Mao was quoted as saying by NHK. Mao has participated in ice shows in the years following her retirement from competitive skating. But she revealed she isn't planning to be involved in ice shows again anytime soon, saying, "I don't have any ice shows lined up at the moment." Added Mao, "I want to focus all my energy on the academy first." New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga reacts after injuring his right hamstring in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals on June 12 in New York. (AP/via KYODO) New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga injured his right hamstring in the sixth inning of a game against the visiting Washington Nationals on Thursday, June 12. The injury occurred when Senga covered first base in the sixth inning. On CJ Abrams' grounder, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso's throw to Senga forced the pitcher to jump to catch it. Abrams was out on the play, and Senga left the game after landing awkwardly. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that the pitcher felt pain in his hamstring as he moved toward first base, according to The Associated Press. "I talked to [Alonso] right away as soon as the inning was over ― I went up to him and I was like hey, man, this is baseball, it happens," Mendoza was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "And then Senga went in, he sent the translator and basically told him, hey, I felt it on the step before the jump, so tell him not to worry about it." Kodai Senga (Isaiah J Downing/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) Senga allowed just two hits in 5⅔ scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out five. The 32-year-old is the MLB leader in ERA (1.47). As a result of his hamstring strain, Senga is scheduled to receive an MRI on Friday to determine the precise extent of the injury, Mendoza told reporters. Senga will be placed on the injured list. In other MLB news, Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki smacked a solo home run in a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Suzuki is tied for third among all MLB players in RBIs (57). ODDS and EVENS | Shohei Ohtani Moves Closer to Pitching Comeback Urawa Reds midfielder Yusuke Matsuo in action against Yokohama FC on June 1 at Saitama Stadium. (KYODO) The Urawa Reds are getting ready for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (June 15-July 13) in the United States. And even before its first game, pride is a driving force for the club. "In order to tell the world how wonderful the is, we need to produce a good result," Reds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa said, according to Kyodo News. "Earning at least a point in the opener is the most important thing and we want to focus on that [for now]." Urawa faces Argentina's River Plate on Tuesday, June 17 (Wednesday 4 AM JST kickoff) in its Group E opener in Seattle. There are eight four-team groups for the Club World Cup's group stage throughout the United States. After the Reds play River Plate, they take on 2010 CWC winner Inter Milan of Italy on Saturday, June 21 (Sunday 4 AM JST kickoff, also in Seattle). Then, on Wednesday, June 25 (Thursday 10 AM JST) at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Urawa meets Mexico's Monterrey in the teams' final Group E match. FIFA, soccer's world governing body, increased the tournament to 32 teams for the 2025 event. It marked a massive increase in size. Urawa earned a fourth-place finish (among seven teams) at the 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. In an April interview with Reds manager Maciej Skorza spoke about his excitement for the upcoming tournament. "It is an incredible feeling to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup held in this format ― a first in football history," the Polish boss said. "We are all extremely excited and it will certainly be an unforgettable experience in our football careers." ODDS and EVENS | Season is Providing Compelling Competition Haruka Kitaguchi celebrates after winning the women's javelin event at the Oslo Bislett Games in Oslo on June 12. (NTB/AP/via KYODO) Haruka Kitaguchi finished first in the women's javelin competition at the Oslo Bislett Games, a Diamond League meet, on Thursday, June 12. The reigning Olympic and world champion secured the victory with a season-best throw of 64.63 meters. Her previous best mark was 64.16, set at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix on May 18 at Tokyo's National Stadium. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Yomiuri Shimbun
a day ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Figure Skater Mao Asada to Establish Academy to Nurture Top Skaters; Academy to Open in August in Tokyo's Tachikawa
The Yomiuri Shimbun Mao Asada poses for a photo in Tokyo on Thursday. Female figure skater Mao Asada, who took silver at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and Kinoshita Group announced Thursday they will launch the Kinoshita Mao Academy in August with the aim of nurturing the next generation of world-class skaters. 'I will take this new step forward as a coach,' said Asada, 34, at a press conference in Tokyo. 'My dream is to train those who will go on to become world-class skaters.' Asada will be directly involved in teaching at the eponymous Mao Rink in Tachikawa, Tokyo. The academy aims to teach children aged 5 to 9. Applications will be accepted until June 30, with 10 students to be selected through a skill test and interview. In addition to on-ice training, the academy will offer a training program that combines ballet and rhythmic gymnastics. They will also offer a scholarship program and establish a club geared toward beginners. As a professional skater, Asada has been energetically performing in ice shows. Regarding her future activities, she said, 'It's half and half. First, I will concentrate all my energy on teaching, and then I will be happy if my dream [of sending skaters to the Olympics] comes true.'
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Figure skating: Retired star Mao Asada to open coaching academy
KYODO NEWS - 17 hours ago - 18:40 | Sports, All Retired figure skater Mao Asada, who won silver for Japan at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, announced Thursday she is embarking on a full-time coaching career. The 34-year-old hopes to train some of the sport's future stars at her school, the Kinoshita MAO Academy, which is scheduled to open on Aug. 1. "I'm taking a new step. I want to instruct each skater carefully one-on-one," Asada said at a press conference in Tokyo. The three-time world champion has stayed active, performing in ice shows since retiring from competition in 2017. The school has been developed with the backing of the Tokyo-based Kinoshita Group, which operates construction and nursing care businesses. Asada oversaw the construction of a rink in the western Tokyo city of Tachikawa that was completed in November. She plans to instruct around 10 pupils aged between 5 and 9 at the school, hoping to "develop skaters who can be world No. 1." Related coverage: Figure skating: Teen star Nishino signals big future with quad jumps Figure skating: U.S. holds on to win World Team Trophy, Japan 2nd Figure skating: U.S. leads Japan ahead of World Team Trophy final day
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Figure skating: Retired star Asada to open coaching academy
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Retired figure skater Mao Asada, who won silver for Japan at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, announced Thursday she is embarking on a full-time coaching career. The 34-year-old hopes to train some of the sport's future stars at her school, the Kinoshita MAO Academy, which is scheduled to open on Aug. 1. "I'm taking a new step. I want to instruct each skater carefully one-on-one," Asada said at a press conference in Tokyo. The three-time world champion has stayed active, performing in ice shows since retiring from competition in 2017. The school has been developed with the backing of the Tokyo-based Kinoshita Group, which operates construction and nursing care businesses. Asada oversaw the construction of a rink in the western Tokyo city of Tachikawa that was completed in November. She plans to instruct around 10 pupils aged between 5 and 9 at the school, hoping to "develop skaters who can be world No. 1."
2 days ago
- Sport
Mao Asada to Launch Figure Skating School
News from Japan Sports Jun 12, 2025 18:53 (JST) Tokyo, June 12 (Jiji Press)--Japanese figure skating icon Mao Asada, a former world champion, said Thursday that she will open an academy in Tokyo to nurture the next generation of figure skaters. The school, "Kinoshita Mao Academy," will train around 10 children aged between 5 and 9 at a skating rink produced by Asada, 34, in the city of Tachikawa, Tokyo. It is scheduled to open on Aug. 1. "I will instruct each skater carefully, " Asada said at a press conference in Tokyo, expressing her eagerness to take her first steps as a coach. Asada said she will refrain from professional figure skating activities for the time being to focus on coaching children. "I want to nurture world-class figure skaters," Asada said, adding that one of her dreams is to train figure skaters who can qualify for the 2034 Winter Olympics. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
